Propeller blade adjusting means



Oct. 25, 1932. J. sQulREs 1,884,904 PROPELLER BLIADE ADJUSTING MEANS Filed June 20, 195C 2 Sheets-Sheet l v Oct. 25, 1932. J. sQulRl-:s

PROPELLYER'BLADE ADJUSTING MEANS Filed June 20, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A E. a

INVENTOR' 'J2/727 57U res.

l ZTTORNEY- Patented Oct. 25, 1932 PATENT oFFlcE Joni# sQuIn'Es, or naennsown, mamma PBOBELLER, BLADE ADJUSTING MEANS Application mea .rune ao, 1930. serial No. 462,479.

This invention relates to propeller blade adjusting and indicating means for establishing all ofthe blades of a propeller at a selected and equal pitch.

The main objects of the invention are to provide mechanism for adjustably positioning propeller blades in a hub member so as to equalize the pitch of the blades; tov provide indicating apparatus for accurately disclosingthe relative pitch position 'of a plurality of propeller blades on a simple propeller; to provide indicating means of this kind which include a micrometer scale 4for enabling a high degree of precision in the locating of the blades at a pretermined pitch relative to their hub and relative to each other; to provide means of this kind by which blades may be set at a pitch of a predetermined angle; and to provide means in conjunction with the blade clamping parts of a propeller blade `for rotating a propeller blade in its hub and indicating its relative rotative position.

Further objects of the invention are to provide combined indicating and adjusting means for the respectively opposite and inter-l changeable blades of propeller hubs; to provide members of this type' which do not re- (inre the hubs in conjunction with which t ey are employed to be machined, calibrated or otherwise formed so as to cooperate with a particular adjusting and indicating member; and to provide indicating and adjustlng means for propeller blades which may be stocked as standard parts of a propeller and installed during replacement or during 1n1t1al assembly without` requiring alteration of the hub.

An illustrative embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a propeller,

' showing a propeller hub embodying my. in-

vention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. j

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of a propeller hub taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and showing the propeller blade adjusting and indicating member in sections. l

Fig. 4 is an end view showing a propeller blade adjusting member in detail.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of aportion of a propeller hub showing the indicating and adjusting means in their normal assembled relation.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing a micrometer element of the indicating mechanism in detail. -f

Fig. 7 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation of a tie bolt used for securing complementary sections of a propeller hub together and also employed in conjunction with the adjusting and indicating members.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the bolt shown l in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of a propeller which embodies a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 5 of a portion of a propeller hub showing a` .modified form of indicating and adjusting means in their normal assembled position.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the propeller has a hub which includes a pair of complementary convenable sections 1 and 2 each having complementary end openings 3 and 4 which are substantially semi-circular in shape; The sections 1 and 2 have side openings 5 therein having splines 6 on-their periphery in which the end of a conventional splined propeller shaft 7 is received. Formed on the upper and lower sides of the section 1, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 are pairs of apertured bosses 8 and 9 which, register respectively with pairs of apertured bosses 10 and 11 formed on the upper and lower sides of the section 2 respectively. Bolts 12 and 13 extend through the apertures of the registering bosses 8 and'10, and 9 and 11 respectivelyr of each side of the hub and serve to draw the sections 1 and 2 together in clamping engagement about theianges ofthe propeller blades, as will be described. These bolts are threaded substantially throughout their entire length but they are journaled in the apertures of the bosses so as to rotate freely when the nuts 14 thereon are released. When the nuts 14 are tightened the tie bolts firmly hold the sections 1 and 2 of the hub together as well as clamp the propeller blades against movement between them.

Formed in the peripheries of the openings 3 and 4 of the sections 1 and 2 respectively, are tapered grooves 15 and 16, the grooves 16 of the respectively opposite ends of the section 2 register with the grooves 15 of the respectively opposite ends of the section 1. Mounted in the respectively opposite open ends of the hub are propeller blades 17 and 18 having tapered peripheral flanges 19 and 20 on their inner ends which are seated inthe`v grooves 15 and 16 of the respectively opposite ends of the sections 1 and 2.

The body portions of the blades are perfectly free of engagement with the hub, the flanges 19 and 20 serving as the sole connecting means between them. The flanges 19 and 20, when clamped between the sections 1 and 2, secure the propeller blades 17 and 18 against outward movement with respect to the hub and due to `their corresponding tapered shape it is only necessary to release the bolts 14 a slight amount in order to allow the blades to turn relative to the hub.

Threaded on alternate tie bolts of the upper and lower pairs of bolts 12 and 13 re'- spectively, are adjusting members 21 each having a lug 22 extending inwardly with respect to the hub through registering recesses 23 and24 in the sections. 1 and 2 respectively.

The adjusting members 21 also have outwardly extending flanges 25 on which an. arrow 26, or other suitable indicia is provided. Formed on' the registering bosses with which the adjusting members 21 are associated is a linear scale 27 having graduations thereon spaced apart distances preferably equal to the pitch of the thread 28.0f the clamping bolts, all of the bolts having threads of identical pitch. The lugs 22 of the adjusting member 21 extend into recesses 29 and 30 formed in the flanges 19 and 20 respectively so as to rotate the blades 17 and 18 with respect to the hub when the adjusting members are moved axially of the corresponding bolt by rotation thereof.

Mounted on the right ends of the bolts on which the adjusting members are threaded are collars 31 each having an inwardly extending tongue 32 which is seated in a slot 33 formed in the side of the tie bolt as shown in Fig. 8. These collars are each provided on their periphery with a micrometer scale 34 by which positions of the arrow 26 between the graduations of the linear scale 27 may be interpolated. An arrow 35 on the end of each of the bosses which are adjacent these `collars forms an indicia for aiding the reading of the micrometer scale.

In order to accurately position the propeller blades 17 and 18 of the respectively opposite sides of the hub so that they have the same pitch within close limits, it is necessary that the center lines of the projections on the adjusting members. 21 of respectively opposite sides of the hub be accurately located With respect tothe faces 10 andll vof the bosses 10 and 11 against which the heads 12 and 13 of the bolts 12 and 13 respectively bear, these faces being in a common plane. This is accomplished by locating the arrows 26' on the adjustable members on the center line of the lugs 22 thereof so thatl when the arrows of both adjusting members are in corresponding position on the linear scales 27, the center lines of the lugs 'are equidistant from the reference faces ,oithe bosses.

The micrometer scales 34 of the lgraduated collars 31 enable accurate interpolation of the location of the arrows between adjacent markings of the linear scales 27, the zero, l

mark of each micrometer scale being arranged so as to register with their respective associated arrows 35 when the arrows 27 on the adjusting member register exactly with the markings of their linear scales, which are spaced apart distances` equal to the pitch of the threads of the bolts.

In order to provide bolts and shiftable adjusting members for the respectively opposite sides of the hub which are interchangeable, and in order that the bolts and their associated parts may be standard in construction so as to permit convenient assembly on a production basis, it is.. necessary that the threads 28 of the bolts end in a predetermined location to the Zero mark of the micrometer scale. This is conveniently accomplished by forming the slot 33 in each bolt in alignment with the head end of-the thread of the bolt and placing the-zero marking of the micrometer scale in registration with the lug 32 of the collar 31 which ex..

Fig. 8, is in alignment with the head end ofv the thread of the bolt when the lug of the adjusting member 21 is located in the slot of the hub in which it is normally received and when thezero mark of the 'micrometer scale 34 is in registration with its arrow 35, thereby actually locating the arrow 26 of the adjusting memberI andthe center line of the lug 26 at a distance from its reference face which is equal to the product of an integer and the pitch of the thread.

In operation, the sections 1 and 2 of the hub are-assembled and the clamping bolts thereof are placed in their respective bosses.

Before the nuts 14 on the tie bolts aretightcned to bring the sections relatively close together, the propeller blades 17 and 18 are inserted into the end openings of the hub and their tapered flanges 19 and 20 respectively, are engaged in the arcuate tapered grooves of the peripheries of the end openings. Then the nuts 14 are tightened up so as to hold the propeller blades in place without securing them against rotation relative to the hub.

When the structure is in this condition, alternative bolts 12 and 13 maybe rotated so as to shift the adjusting members 2l axially of the bolts upon which they are mount-v ed to the right or to the left thereby positively rotating the propeller4 blades so as to selectively position the latter at a desired angle to the plane which is normal to the axis of the propeller shaft 7. By observing the graduations of the linear scales 27 which are associated with the adjusting members of the blades 17 and 18 respectively, the latter may be placed at angles relative to a plane that is normal to the axis of the shaft 7, which give each blade an identical pitch. By also observing the micrometer scales of the tie bolts on which the respective adjusting' members 21 are threaded, the propellers 17 and 18 may be adjustably positioned With a high degree of precision. The correlated scales by which the pitch of one-blade is compared with the pitch of the other may also be used for placing the blades at a predetermined angle so as to produce a selected pitch. This is conveniently accomplished by providing a chart, not shown, on which the numerical values of the graduations of the scales are converted to degrees, minutes and seconds.

When both the linear and micrometer scales of one propeller adjusting unit have the same reading as the linear scale and the micrometer scale of the propeller adjusting unit, the blades are certain to have equal pitches. When the propeller blades are properly positioned in this manner, the bolts may be held against rotation while the nuts 14` thereon are tightened, thereby firmly clamping the propeller blades between the sections 1 and 2 of the hub without altering their positions.

In the form shown in Figs. 10 and 11,` the propeller hub, shaft and blades are identical in construction with the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive and the identical parts shown in Figs. 9 and 10 are correspondingly numbered. In. this form of my invention the adjusting members 21 are provided with Vernierl scales 36 as shown in Fig. 11. Formed on the hub adjacent each Vernier scale of the adjusting members 21 are Vernier scales 37 which register `with the Vernier scales 36 of the adjusting members, the micrometer scale being omitted in this form. By reading the corresponding Vernier scales of the adjusting member and the hub in a conventional manner it is possible to accurately locate the blades so that they may be given identical pitches within very close limits.

Although but one specilic embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a propeller hub including hub sections, a propeller blade, adjustably mounted on said hub, rotatable members for clamping said sections together and means carried solely by said members and operable by rotation thereof for positively moving said blade relative to said hub.

2. In combination, a propeller hub including convenable sections, a propeller blade rotatably mounted in said hub, membersfor releasably holding said hub sections in clamping engagement with said blade for retaining the latter in a selected position relative to said hub, and mechanism on said holding members for positively moving said blade relative to said hub. l l

3. In combination, a propeller hub having indicia thereon, a propeller blade adjustably mounted on said hub, adjusting means for positively moving said blade relative to said hub so as to provide said bade with a selected pitch, and means carried by said hub independently of said blade and operable by said adjusting means for indicating the relative position of said hub and blade.

4. In combination, a hub, a propeller blade i mounted therein, clamping members for locking said blade against movement relative to said hub, means operable by said clamping members for rotating said blade in said hub,A

and means responsive to movement of said rotating means for indicating the rotatable position of said blade in said hub.

5. In'combination, a propeller hub, a pair of propeller blades, each adjustably mounted on said hub for relative movement thereto, a pair ofl independently loperable adjusting units on said hub, each co-acting with one of said .blades for establishing each blade at a selected pitch, and correlated indicating members on each unit for comparing Vthe pitch of one blade with the pitch of the other.

6. In combination, a propeller hub having convenable portions, a propeller blade adjustably mounted on said hub between said portions, a bolt journaled in registering apertures in said portions for holding the same in clamping engagement with said blade, and an adjusting member on said bolt and en'- gaging said blade for positively moving the latter relative to said hub upon rotation of said bolt.

ISL'

' tions each associated with one'of 7. In combination, a propeller hub having convenable portions, a propeller blade adjustably mounted in 'said hub between said portions, a tie bolt'journaled in registering apertures in said portions for holding the same in clamping engagement with said blade, and an adjusting member on said tie bolt engaging said blade for positively rotating the latter relative to said hub and having indicia thereon for accurately indicating the position of said blade relative to said hub.

8. In combination, a propeller hub having convenable sections, a propeller blade adjustably mounted on said hub between the Sections thereof, a bolt journaled in registering apertures in said sections for holding the same together and clamping said blade in a selected position, an adjusting member movable on said tie bolt and engaging said blade for positively rotating the latter relative to said hub, and indicating means on said ad justing member and hub including a graduated scale., having units thereon convertible to degrees fonaccurately measuring the pitch of said blade.-

9. In combination a propeller hub including convenable sections having registering apertured bosses, a propeller blade adjustably mounted on said hub between the sections thereof, a bolt journaled in said apertured bosses for holding said sections together and clamping said blade in a selected rotatable position, an adjusting member threaded on said tie bolt and engaging said blade, said member being shiftable by-rotation of said tie bolt for selectively rotatably positioning said blade relative to said hub, indicating means on said adjusting member including a linear scale graduated in units corresponding With the pitch of the threads of said tie bolt, and a. member on said tie bolt having a micrometer scale thereon for interpolating between the graduations of said linear scale.

10. In combination, a propeller hub, a propeller blade adj ustably mounted on said hub for movement relative thereto so as to provide said blade with a selected pitch, means for indicating the angle of said blade with respect to a plane normal to the axis of rotation of said hub including a linear scale having spaced graduations, and a micrometer scale for interpolating between said graduations.

11. In combination, a propeller hub, a pair of propeller blades, each adjustably mounted on said hub for relative movement with re-v spect thereto so as to provide each blade with a selected pitch, indicating means including a pair of linear scales having spaced graduasaid blades, and a pair of members each having a micrometer scale thereon, one for interpolating between the graduation of each linear scale.

12. In combination with a propeller shaft, a hub including a pair of convenable sections ative to a plane normal to the axis of said shaft. i

13. In combination with a propeller shaft, a hub including a pair of convenable sections mounted on said shaft, said sections having complementary openings in their respectively opposite sides and having grooves in the inner peripheries of said openings, a pair of propeller blades each having a peripheral flange on its inner end seated in one of said grooves, each of said flanges being provided with a recess, adjusting members mounted on said hub each having a lug engaged in one of said recesses for' positively rotating said propeller blades with respect to said hub so as to selectively position said blades, and correlated indicating means on said adjusting members and hub respectively for comparing the angular relation of one blade with respect to thef other. j

14. In combination, a propeller hub including convenable sections having pairs of registering apertured bosses on their respectively opposite sides, a pair of blades one adj ustably mounted on each side of said hub and located between said sections, a pair of tie bolts, one 4extending through each pair of corresponding bosses, and a pair of adjusting members, one threaded on each tie bolt and each engaging one of said blades. j

15. .In combination, a hub including com plementary sections, a propeller blade mounted in said hub, members for securing said sections together in clamping engagement with said blade for holding the latter against movement relative to said hub, and means operable by said members for rotating said blade in said hub.

16. In combination, a propeller hub including complementary hub sections having registering apertured bosses and a slot adjacent said bosses, a propeller blade adjustably mounted on said hub having a recess registering with said -slot, a tie bolt extending through the apertures of said bosses for securing said hubv sections together in clamping relation with said blade, vand a blade adjusting member threaded on said tie bolt and operable by rotation thereof having a lug extending through the slot of said hub and into the recess of said blade for positively turning the latter with respect to said hub.

17. In combination, a propeller hub in cluding complementary hub sections having registering apertured bosses and a slot adjacent said bosses, a propeller blade adjustably mounted on .Said hub having a recess registering With said slot, a tie bolt extending through the apertures of said bosses for securing said hub sections together in clamping relation With said blade, a blade adjusting member threaded on said tie bolt and operable by rotation thereof having a lug extending through the slot of said hub and into the recess of .said blade for positively turning the latter with respect to said hub, and a member fixed against rotation on said tie bolt having graduations thereon for indicating the pitch of said blade.

18. In combination, a propeller hub having indicia thereon, a propeller blade adjustably mounted on said hubfor' movement relative to the latter so as to provide said blade With a selected pitch7 and mechanism on said hub for positively moving said blade relative to said hub including means independent of said blade having indicia thereon for cooperating With the indicia on said hub in indicating the relative position of said hub and blade.

19. In combination', a propeller hub including spaced apertured lugs and having a marker there0na propeller blade rotatably mounted in said hub, a bolt journaled in the apertures of said lugs, a shiftable member threaded on said bolt and cooperating With said blade for positively turning the latter relative to said hub, and an element vnonrotatably fixed on said bolt having graduations thereon registering with said marker for indicating the position of said blade in said hub.

JOHN SQUIRES. 

